Santa Clara County Biographies
This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm
FREDERICK THEUERKAUF
SURNAMES: WEYH, HENNING
FREDERICK THEUERKAUF is one of the earliest settlers of Santa Clara County,
having come to this beautiful valley in 1852, in which year he bought a claim of
160 acres, on the Quito Ranch, seven miles west of San Jose. He made great
improvements on his real estate, erecting a fine residence and planting a good
orchard and vineyard. In 1875 he sold the property to Peter Hilldebrant, for
$30,000. It is now know as the "Evergreen Avenue Farm."
During the three years following the sale of his ranch, Mr. Theuerkauf lived in
East San Jose. He then purchased 180 acres of improved land, and sold 100 acres
of it, reserving the remainder for his fine home residence. It is located in the
Willow District, between Plummer Avenue and the Almaden road, three miles from
the city limits of San Jose. Mr. Theuerkauf also owns a ranch of 254 acres,
among the hills, six miles southeast of the city. This he devotes to
grain-raising, pasturing and fruit-growing, making the production of grain a
specialty.
Mr. Theuerkauf was born in Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, January 29, 1822. He is the
son of Matthias and Catharine Theuerkauf. In 1837 the parents, with their
children, came to America. Landing at New Orleans, they proceeded directly to
Cincinnati, Ohio. There Frederick, the subject of this sketch, on the
twenty-ninth of September, 1845, married Miss Catharine Weyh, who was born in
Baden, Bavaria, July 29, 1824. Their two children were born in Cincinnati.
Caroline, the elder, is now the wife of George W. Henning, who has charge of the
hill farm, spoken of above, owned by Mrs. Henning's father. George W., the
younger, is a farmer in Monterey, of this State. Mr. Theuerkauf's father died in
New Orleans, in 1844, at the age of fifty-five years, and his mother, in Santa
Clara County, in 1863, at the age of seventy-five years. Mr. and Mrs. Theuerkauf
and their children are members of the Methodist Church. Mr. Theuerkauf has been
a Republican ever since the candidacy of John C. Fremont.
Mr. Theuerkauf commenced life in poor circumstances, paying by $300 for 160
acres, which, as stated, he sold for $30,000. He is a man of means, which he has
accumulated by the pursuit of his life work, agriculture. He may justly look
with pride on his beautiful home, surrounded by its fine grove, and approached
by gravel walks, lined with flowers. The home shows taste and love of order, and
gives ample evidence of the care bestowed upon it by himself and his wife. Mr.
Theuerkauf prized knowledge, and therefore his children have been well educated.
SOURCE: Pen Pictures From The Garden of the World of Santa Clara County,
California, Illustrated. - Edited by H.S. Foote.- Chicago: The Lewis Publishing
Company, 1888. page 540 transcribed by Carolyn Feroben